Confusing Pairs of Words

Many pairs of words sound alike or nearly alike, but each has a different meaning. For example, affect means to influence something, while effect means the result of something. Words like these can be easily confused with each other.

You must be careful to use the correct word from a pair of such confusing words when you are writing and speaking. If not, you may express something different than what you mean to express.

For example, suppose you are writing about the importance of a good marriage. You write that martial bliss is a wonderful thing. The word martial refers to war. You should have written that marital bliss is a wonderful thing. The word marital refers to marriage.

You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself by addressing a letter to the administrator of your school as "Dear Principle." The word principle means a fundamental truth. You should write "Dear Principal." The word principal refers to the head of a school.

Here are some word pairs that are commonly confused. Learn the meanings of each of the words so that you use them correctly.

Accept - to take something that is given to youExcept - to leave out

Altar - a raised place used in religious servicesAlter - to change

Ascent - to climbAssent - to agree

Brake - a device for stopping or slowing a vehicleBreak - to come apart

Cite - to documentSite - a place

Coarse - roughCourse - moving from one point to the next

Complement - something that makes a thing whole or perfectCompliment - to praise

Conscience - a sense of right and wrongConscious - state of being awake

Descent - coming from a higher place to a lower oneDissent - to disagree

Desert - a dry, hot, sandy areaDessert - the sweet final part of a meal

Device - something made for a certain purposeDevise - to invent something or develop a plan

Elicit - to bring outIllicit - illegal

Eminent - famous or well respectedImminent - about to happen

Faint - weakFeint - a movement meant to deceive

Forth - forwardFourth - an ordinal number

Here - at or in a placeHear - to receive sound through one's ears

Hoard - to save and store awayHorde - a very large group

Hole - an opening through somethingWhole - an entire thing

Loath - reluctantLoathe - greatly dislike

Palate - the roof of the mouthPalette - an artist's board for mixing paints

Peace - absence of fightingPiece - a portion of something

Plain - clearly seen, heard, or understoodPlane - a flat surface

Pore - a very small opening in the skinPour - to cause something to flow

Precede - to come beforeProceed - to go forward

Shear - to cut the wool off a sheepSheer - so thin you can see through it

Stationary - to stand stillStationery - writing paper

Waist - the part of the human body between the ribs and the hipsWaste - to use or spend carelessly

Weak - without strengthWeek - a period of seven days

Don't be CONFUSED! Learn the meanings of these words to use them correctly.